Opinion in Israel Split on Admission of 50 German Technicians

June 18, 1954

JERUSALEM (Jun. 17)

The anticipated arrival in Israel next Fall of some 50 German technicians to assemble a gigantic floating dry dock to be sent to this country as German reparations payment has brought into sharp focus a split in Israeli opinion over whether to admit Germans to the country.

The split extends from the level of the ordinary citizen through the Cabinet and leaders of public institutions. Those who favor the admission of the German experts argue that Israel cannot remain forever cut off from Germany, and particularly not now when German reparations goods are arriving in the country. Their opponents insist that the matter of accepting the technicians is more political than economic and that the mood in Israel does not yet permit the admission of Germans.